House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica thinks that critics who believe Congress can pass a better transportation bill next year are “smoking the funny weed.”

Faced with plugging a multibillion-dollar highway and transit funding shortfall, Mica said finding the needed money will be even harder next year — especially in the Senate.

“Anyone who thinks it’s going to get better after this next election, you’re smoking the funny weed because it’s not going to happen,” the Florida Republican said at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials legislative conference Tuesday. “There’s another wave coming and I predict the Senate will be even harder to deal with on these issues.”

Mica is continuing to lobby for his five-year, $260 billion measure as Republican leadership is privately retooling the measure, including shortening it to as little as 18 months and cutting overall funding by as much as 5 percent.

“Funny weed” is only one of many Mica-isms — he’s known amongst transportation-watchers and journalists for his colorful remarks. He’s frequently threatened to “kick the crap out of” people talking about a short-term bill, told reporters to “get some hemorrhoid ointment and hang on” and suggested lawmakers get together over a pot of “spiked grog.”

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 10:27 a.m. on February 28, 2012.